Biosafety Training

Requirements

The Biosafety Program is designed to minimize the risks of lab-acquired illness, to ensure proper containment for activities utilizing biohazardous materials, and to maintain compliance with regulations pertaining to infectious agents, recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules, select agents or toxins, research animals, bloodborne pathogens, and other biohazardous materials.

Inspections are conducted in all areas where biological research is performed; annual inspections may be required (depending on the type of research).

Individuals working in a laboratory with recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids, or biological or infectious materials are required to be properly trained.

Training

Lab-Specific Training

Lab-specific training is ongoing training provided by the Principal Investigator on the specific materials and procedures that are being utilized in the laboratory. The Lab-specific training must be provided prior to allowing individuals to work with biohazardous materials and whenever policies or procedures change.

Biosafety Training

Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) provides Biosafety training that fulfills the training requirement for both work with infectious materials in laboratories and materials of human origin that fall under the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard. The frequency of refresher training is determined by the materials that are being utilized as outlined by the chart below. The course can be accessed here.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Biotechnology Activities (OBA) regulates the use of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules in government sponsored research and teaching activities in the United States. The NIH OBA developed the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines) as a comprehensive set of regulations governing the use of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules. One component of these regulations is a requirement to ensure all personnel working with recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules are properly trained. The Biosafety group in EHS has developed training on Blackboard™ to help meet this requirement. The course can be accessed here.

Safety, Security, and Incident Response Training

These trainings are provided by EH&S and are required for anyone may have access to areas where select agents and toxins are used or stored. These trainings must be taken before access is granted and at least annually thereafter. Additional trainings may be required based on the materials used. Please contact EH&S Biosafety at 480.965.5389 for more information.

Training Determination Table

The table below will help you determine the appropriate training to take based on the biosafety level and category of materials used. For questions, please contact EH&S Biosafety at 480.965.5389 or the IBC Coordinator at 480.965.4387.

Biosafety Level (BSL)

Materials Used

Training Required

Renewal Frequency

1

Recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules that not exempt from the NIH Guidelines